Gideon Tarkin's reply reached Lantilis Planet. Governor Seben of the Imperial Twelfth Army shot to his feet in the command center and roared, "Is Gideon Tarkin trying to rebel? The sector capital is under siege, and he still wants to wait and see!"
The adjutant beside him tried to persuade him. "Governor, this fleet's movements are indeed suspicious. We still don't know how they got to Lantilis Planet, and I believe General Gideon is concerned about that. These warships, which appear to be drone carriers, are only attacking our fleet for now. They show no intention of attacking the planet. I think we should simply hold our current line."
The muscles in Seben's face trembled. "Ten whole capital ships are lurking right beside my sector capital, and you want me to just wait?! Gideon Tarkin's fleet is four times the size of theirs! Yet he's only willing to send a token detachment? Has the Tarkin family already decided that the Twelfth Army belongs to them?!"
He turned to the adjutant. "Report this to the Imperial Supreme Strategic Command! Tell them Gideon Tarkin is refusing to move, sitting by while the sector capital comes under attack, clearly plotting something!"
"Yes!" The adjutant nodded and immediately went to make the arrangements.
As the adjutant hurried away, Seben gripped the edge of the command console so tightly that his knuckles turned white. On the surveillance screens, thousands of drones ravaged the planet's outer perimeter. At this moment, not a single ship remained in orbit around Lantilis Planet.
Whether military vessels or civilian ships, they had either fled or been destroyed. Those that remained did not even dare take off. It was as though the entire star region had been cut off and turned into an isolated island.
Meanwhile, on Charos IV Planet.